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Reliability and Validity of the Newly Developed Hacettepe-Computer Based Theory of Mind (Hacettepe-CBToM) Battery
Objective:
With the rise in popularity of the theory of mind (ToM), defined as the ability to understand that others’ beliefs, desires, and intentions may differ from one’s own, numerous tools have been developed since the 1990s. However, the use of disparate tasks to measure the same construct, the lack of a standardized task battery, and the inadequate validity/reliability of existing TOM measures have contributed to inconsistent research findings. This study developed the HACETTEPE-Computer Based Theory of Mind Battery (HACETTEPE CBToM), which utilizes three-dimensional colored animations, focuses on social interactions, and integrates cognitive/ affective dimensions. Comprehensive validity and reliability studies were conducted.
Method:
The validity and reliability studies of the battery, which consists of eight scenarios (four second-order false belief tasks: two cognitive/ two affective, and four irony tasks: two cognitive/two affective), were carried out with 214 healthy adults aged 18-36.
Results:
Construct validity was evaluated through confirmatory factor analysis, and the fit indices indicated an excellent model fit [χ2(19, N=214) =26.14, p>0.05, χ2/df=1.38, RMSEA=0.042, SRMR=0.05, GFI=0.97, AGFI=0.95, CFI=0.98, TLI(NNFI)=0.97]. For criterion validity, a positive and significant correlation was found between the scores of the HACETTEPE-CBToM Battery and the Dokuz Eylül Theory of Mind Scale (r=0.32, p<0.05). The inter-rater reliability and internal consistency coefficients were r=0.94 and r=0.72, respectively.
Conclusion:
The HACETTEPE-CBToM Battery is a culturally appropriate, ecologically valid, and psychometrically robust tool for detailed assessment of ToM.
